sphinxsmemoryjournal:

If there was a specific moment in my childhood that I had to pick was my favorite time in the world, it would have to be when I went to outdoor school. I loved it. I love the outdoors and we were basically camping in cabins, having campfires, and doing outdoor activities. I was in heaven.

My sixth grade class went to Camp Arawana in the fall. I remember the crisp air, the fact I wore lots of layers, and how the camp name was made fun of quite often for its close resemblance to another word (the camp name was pronounced Air-rah-wah-nah). I still have my wooden name tag complete with signatures from the camp councilors and beads from the activities I did.

I went to different camps that was like outdoor school even after that as well. Horse camp and some other camp I can’t remember. Both at a different camp though, Camp Namanu. There was one day where we had free time to do whatever around the camp, and I became attracted to a little spring that led into a small pond nearby.

As I peered below, I spotted bright orange lizards, a bunch of them, slithering around at the bottom but in reachable distance. I decided to throw my hand in and snatch one, holding it in my palms with glee. It didn’t even try to escape. I ran over to a camp counselor to show him my prize and he grinned and told me to show to it another camp counselor, pointing to a specific one.

I thought nothing of it, thinking maybe he was one of the animal teaching counselors, and ran up to him. He immediately yelped and told me to get it away from him. It turned out he didn’t like newts and thought they were gross.I looked confused as I had no idea and felt bad though he told me it was fine and to put it back soon and wash my hands afterwards.

Meanwhile, the counselor who sent me to him was laughing his head off in the background…